Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Seed, its characters, or its main plotline. I don't own the character Kai. He's happily owned by fellow writer, JC-Titans143.

I don't own the song "Best I Ever Had". It's owned by the uber kewl, and a must listen to band called Vertical Horizon, and of course their people.

Hmm, I still have no idea what to do with this thing. Gah, I want it to end happy, but there are so many possibilities! Man, this is fun hearing you guys talk. Trust me, I take your opinions to heart….I just don't pay attention sometimes when I write. LoL.

Hmm…oh well, onto….

Chapter 10 – Best I Ever Had


So you sailed away

Life, right about now, was the biggest piece of shit God granted him. He could only swear everyone and everything was born to hate him, despise him, torture him. Nothing in this world was made for him.

Cagalli was no exception.

Into a grey sky morning

Why couldn't one happy thing ever occur in his life? Why was everything and everyone around him against the very thing he stood for? To hell with that. He didn't even know.

He just couldn't understand why things were just the way they were and so, he cried and cried on his bedside with no ray of hope shining anywhere near his window.

Now I'm here to stay

As Lacus helped Cagalli get herself together in the room next door, Kira and Kai sat in silence until Kai picked up the courage to talk.

"Kira…? What…what was that all about? I mean, you seemed pretty…upset. Do you need to tell me anything?"

Love can be so boring

Kira sighed and looked out the window. "Kai…you just can't understand what a brother feels for his sister…He broke that connection, Kai…he broke it…"

Kai sat in mindless confusion. Kira was talking in riddles to him and he couldn't figure heads or tails about it.

Nothing's quite the same now

"Lacus, I don't understand why he won't just leave me alone!" Cagalli cried into her hands as Lacus looked on with sympathy.

Rubbing her back to ease her heavy hearted pain, "Cagalli…please. Your wedding is in two days. Get a hold of yourself! Don't think about him for now. Think about the moments of happiness you'll be sharing with Kai in the near future! Think of what great opportunities you can set up for ORB through this marriage! Cagalli, you have been slacking off with your planning. I suggest you get dressed and go out with Kai to start the preparations."

Looking up with puffy, red eyes, she let out a sniffle and wiped up her remaining tears. "It's just too hard Lacus…but, for you, I guess I can be happy for one day." She forced a smile on as she strained to hold back tears, getting up and leaving the room to call Kai to get ready.

I just say your name now

Lacus took in a deep breath as she stood to meet Kira in the kitchen.

Good. He was alone.

But it's not so bad

"Kira?"

He didn't take his eyes away from the window.

"What you did back there….it went way out of hand."

He continued to stare until he finally opened his mouth to reply. "Lacus…tell me. Have you ever felt what your sister or anyone really close to you has felt? Can you tell if they're feeling sad, happy, mad, or whatever?"

Nodding, she replied simply with a "Yes."

You're only the best I've ever had

"Then if you can feel their emotions, how can you say that if my sister was hurt because of him, how can you say that what I did went way out of hand?" He turned to face her, but his expression was soft. "Lacus, I was trying to look out for Cagalli."

Lacus stared at her feet in contemplation. "Cagalli doesn't need looking out for…not now anyway. She's perfectly capable of taking care of herself. What he did, maybe she wanted it to happen…because maybe, just maybe she still might…love him." She turned to face his lost expression as she took a sip from her cup. "Kira, you're a great brother, but there are some times you just butt your head in and make things worse than they already are. She can deal with this herself, Kira. Do her a favor and stay out of it."

You don't want me back

As Lacus began stepping foot outside the kitchen, Kira called her off.

"Lacus…I wish it were as easy as you say. But for you, I'll do my best."

She smiled. By the look of his eyes, he did mean it, and he never broke a promise. Walking over to him, she patted his head jokingly as a master his dog. "Good boy, Kira! You get a treat tonight! But first…I have to go and pick out the bride's maids' outfits. Do you want to come along and take the children?"

He shook his head politely. "It's alright, Lacus. I've got enough to think about."

"Suit yourself." Giving him a small peck on his cheek, she made her exit.

"She still might love him?" he thought silently to himself as he stared once more outside that window.


You're just the best I ever had

She knew that once she left that doorway, she'd be walking in hell. Kai stayed silent, not wishing to upset her with this morning and kept the discussion strictly on their marriage preparation. "So we have this meeting with Linda, our wedding planner I hired. She said she'll go step-by-step with us on every single decoration, the songs, the after party. She also wants to- - "

So you stole my world

She tuned him out. Planning never was something she was good at anyway. What Kira did…he found out. Lacus must've known, too. Kai probably didn't even know a thing. That explained how he acted. Or else he would've been like Kira…or worse.

But why did she have to care so much? Why couldn't she just throw him away like all the others?

Oh yeah, because he was different. He was Athrun Zala.

Now I'm just a phony

"Cagalli? Honey, we're here," Kai indicated, poking her shoulder playfully to catch her attention.

With a blink or two, she woke up from her musings and stepped off the car. "Sorry, daydreaming again."

"What else is new? There's no difference with you at work and at home," he teased.

"Oh shut up," she said, pushing him forward a little faster into the building before them. "I just want to get this over with so we can get to our wedding in one piece, Kai."

"Okay, okay! Don't get your thongs in a twist!"


Remembering the girl

Lacus was on her way to get dresses. She was going to help Kai out by doing something Cagalli wished she never was given the responsibility to do. But, she decided to change her mind when she passed by a familiar friend's apartment.

She decided to take a chance with their love and play match-maker. She decided to help Athrun and Cagalli.

Leaves me down and lonely

She wasn't 100 sure, but she had a feeling that there was some place in her heart that still yearned for the man to complete her. It was a gamble she was willing to take.

Send it in a letter

One deep breath, and the pivotal moment in their lives would suddenly start.

"Lacus?"

Make yourself feel better

He was a wreck. Dried blood stains all over his clothes indicated he never bothered to change once he got home. Tear stains marked his face from eye to cheek. He just was a wreck without her, and this justified it in less than 5 seconds of examining him.

"What are you doing here?"

But it's not so bad

She smiled her usual, uplifting smile that brought joy into any broken heart. But with an exception to his right now. "Athrun, do you still love her?"

You're only the best I ever had

His puffy eyes blinked and he sniffed. "Cagalli?...I want to…but she doesn't…I can't love her like this anymore, Lacus. It only hurts. Besides, she's got Kai. He looks like a good enough guy. He can take care of her…"

You don't need me back

Her sweet face soured at his reply. "You can't possibly mean that!"

He glared at her. "Of course I do, Lacus! Don't tell me how to feel! If she can't love me, I can't love her! That's the end of my story!"

You're just the best I ever had

"But Athrun…she does love you."

"Shut up. If she loves me, she would've given me a second chance. If she loves me, she wouldn't be marrying Kai. If she loves me…SHE'D BE WITH ME!"

He backed off when it was her turn to glare back. He'd never seen her like this before. It was definitely a character change in a sweet girl like Lacus Clyne. "She loves you, Athrun. She's just really confused right now. I'm not totally sure, but I do have a feeling she still does. Otherwise, why do you think she agreed to do it with you yesterday night? Why didn't she call us and tell us what happened? Why didn't she just make you understand right then and there that she wanted to move on? Because, Athrun, she still cares!"

And it may take some time to

He stared at the pink haired pop star before him and just couldn't bring himself to be convinced. "Lacus…"

Patch me up inside

"Athrun, you still have a chance…you can make this work."

But I can't take it so I

She gave him one last look before turning around to leave. He was a wreck. He was Cagalli's wreck. "If you're still willing to try…don't try too hard. You'll just hurt yourself more."


Run away and hide

"…the roses will be mounted as the center piece of each table. Pink and white was your color choice, correct? Well, once the guests are seated, our appetizers will be delivered ASAP so they won't get restless. Of course, the main course is the finest in ORB and your wedding cake will be - - "

And I may find in time that

Linda went on and on about the wedding preparations. She was very optimistic and practically born for the job. ORB's finest, for sure.

You were always right

She glanced over at Kai, who was mesmerized by the whole idea, the colors, the food, the everything. He was stuck in a trance that he simply didn't wish to get out of.

She smiled. He was this stoked for that wedding.

You're always right

"Linda?"

The young lady stopped her little description and whatnot, looking at Cagalli in surprise. This was the first time she had heard her voice the whole day. It was just Kai and her talking.

"Yes?"

So you sailed away

"May I look around a bit? I just want to get a better feel of the place."

With a quick nod, Linda brushed her away and went on with her planning non sense to Kai.

Into a grey sky morning

Letting out a sigh of relief, partly to finally get away from Linda, she made way to the table she would be sitting. Taking her place at the table, she looked before to find several more tables spread around, facing her. Of course, everyone would be there to cheer her on, but lacking one very important person. Her father. He wouldn't be able to see his daughter wed, but he'd be watching it front row up where he was.

Now I'm here to stay

He sat on his chair and pondered over her words.

"But Athrun…she does love you."

Does she really?

He couldn't figure out why Lacus was so convincing, but whatever it was. It made him think for hours. "I want to love you…"

Love can be so boring

"…But I have to let you go…"

What was it you wanted?

"…I don't want to hurt you anymore…"

Could it be I'm haunted?

"I just want you to be happy…"

But it's not so bad

She scanned the tables again. There was one less chair missing at one table.

You're only the best I ever had

She grabbed the guest list crumpled in her pocket and viewed it over. Smack dab in the middle was a big black scratch out.

I don't want you back

Squinting really hard, bringing it against the light, she sought out the name she scratched.

Finally, it came to her.

Athrun Zala.

You're just the best I ever had

This was already an old copy, torn and wrinkled beyond its years, and she already made sure that only the most important people would come…

The best I ever had

…meaning he was most definitely not coming.

"I won't let you ruin this for me, Athrun…no matter how I feel…"

But she had a feeling she'd regret it otherwise. Taking out another, and this time not crumpled, piece of paper, she clicked the top of her pen and started writing.

"Really, if it doesn't show, I still want you here. But, I guess I really should start out by saying I'm sorry…"

The best I ever…


GOD! I love that song! Once more, I blame that cursed radio for this. First I was planning for Athrun to become suicidal or something in this. Kai was gonna find out about Athrun and Cagalli and just keep quite about it…BUT IT NEVER HAPPENED! I thank everyone who tried to help picking a song out for me, but I'm sorry I didn't use them. BSB is just not my fandom. They don't really rock in my books. Sorry. LoL. I'll never stoop down to that level. Anywho, so I really wasn't going to use Lacus or Kira much. But what one song can do to ya over the course of one play, right? MIRACLES HAPPEN! Man, I wasn't even expecting this. Only God knows what'll happen next.

So, Lacus decides to play heroine again. Athrun lets Cagalli go. gets stoned PLEASE DON'T STOP READING! I will not let you AsuCaga fans down! This is a happy ending! And Cagalli…what's she doing! xD

Yes, a happy ending on life support. Please, be heard! REVIEW!